Wax-free chewing gum base that includes oil

ABSTRACT

A chewing gum base is provided which is free of wax as well as a method of producing same. In an embodiment, a wax-free gum base is provided having flavor release characteristics at least as good as similar bases including wax comprising an elastomer, polyvinyl acetate, an elastomer plasticizer, and a sufficient amount of oil chosen from the group consisting of: cottonseed; soybean; canola; safflower; sunflower; palm; and coconut oil to achieve flavor release characteristics that are at least as good as a similar gum base including wax.

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/098 706filed on Jul. 28, 1993 and entitled: "WAX-FREE CHEWING GUM BASE" nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,424,030, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 07/906,921 filed on Jun. 30, 1992 entitled:"WAX-FREE CHEWING GUM BASE" which is now U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,500 and wasa continuation-in-part of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US92/01686filed on Mar. 3, 1992, in the U.S. Receiving Office under the PatentCooperation Treaty entitled: "IMPROVED WAX-FREE CHEWING GUM BASE" andnaming Steven Synosky as the inventor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improved chewing gum bases of the typewhich do not contain wax, and to methods of preparing chewing gum baseswhich do not contain wax.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, in the United Kingdom, the use of wax, especially mineralhydrocarbon wax, in gum bases, has come under scrutiny. There is aperception in the United Kingdom that it may not be desirable to use waxin gum bases. This perception could result in possible regulatoryissues, in the United Kingdom, concerning the use of wax in gum base.

Unfortunately, one cannot merely remove wax from a gum base withoutpossibly compromising certain desirable characteristics of the resultingchewing gum product. Wax provides a number of functions in the gum base.For example, wax can influence the release of flavor from the gumproduct. Furthermore, wax aids in the curing of the finished gum productthat is made from the gum base. Additionally, wax contributes to theshelf-life of the finished gum and its texture.

Although some gum bases are known that do not contain wax, they, theinventors believe, typically do not have the chew characteristics, inaddition to other characteristics, of typical chewing gums that arecreated from wax containing gum bases. Heretofore, gum bases without waxwere not created in response to any regulatory concerns, but rather,were merely created as part of bases to achieve other ends, for example,a non-tack gum. Therefore, in certain instances, compromises withrespect to certain characteristics may have been made to achieve otherresults, e.g., non-tack, reduced calories, etc.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,574, issued to Comollo, discloses an adhesivechewing gum base in which the non-tack properties were achieved byeliminating conventional chewing gum base ingredients which were foundto contribute to chewing gum tackiness, and by substituting non-tackyingredients in place of the conventional ingredients. Specifically, itwas discovered that three classes of materials account for conventionalchewing gum tackiness. These materials are elastomers, resins, andwaxes.

Comollo eliminated natural and some synthetic elastomer from the chewinggum base, and substituted in their place one or more non-tacky syntheticelastomers such as polyisobutylene, polyisoprene, isobutylene-isoprenecopolymer and butadiene-styrene copolymer. Comollo also eliminated thetack-producing natural resins and modified natural resins and usedinstead relatively high amounts of hydrogenated or partiallyhydrogenated vegetable oils or animal fats. Finally, Comollo completelyexcluded waxes from the gum base, but included polyvinyl acetate, fattyacids, and mono and diglycerides of fatty acids.

There is therefore a need for a method for removing wax from gum baseswithout compromising the characteristics of the resultant gum. Likewise,there is a need for a gum base not having wax, but exhibiting thecharacteristics of gum bases that do include wax.

In constructing bubble gum bases, typically, such bases containelastomers, elastomer plasticizers, fillers, softeners, waxes, and otheroptional ingredients such as colorants and antioxidants. Softenerstypically used in gum base include hydrogenated vegetable oils, fattyacid esters, acetylated fatty acid esters, acetylated fatty acid esters,glycerol triacetate, and the like. Generally, glycerol triacetate andacetylated fatty acid esters such as acetylated mono-, di-, andtri-glycerides are used to soften vinyl polymers, in particular,polyvinyl acetate.

It has been found that in at least some experimental wax-free gum basesthat were constructed that blocking (agglomeration of pelletized basewhile stored in a package) occurred. To prevent blocking, shipping andstorage of the product in refrigerated areas was suggested. It wasbelieved that a temperature of around 10° to 12° C. would prevent suchblocking.

However, even under such conditions, certain gum bases stillagglomerate. Rheological glass transition (Tg) temperatures (thetemperature at which cold-flow or deformation may begin to occur) ofcertain gum bases indicated that shipping and storage temperatures of atleast 6° to 10° C. would be required, instead of 10° to 12° C., toprevent blocking. Such shipping and storage temperatures are not costeffective. In fact, such temperatures may not be possible when shippingin, or to, certain locations.

There is therefore a need for improved wax-free chewing gum bases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to improved wax-free chewing andbubble gum bases and methods of making same. The gum bases of thepresent invention are substantially free of wax but include a sufficientamount of at least one oil chosen from the group consisting ofcottonseed, soybean, canola, safflower, sunflower, palm, and coconut oilto achieve flavor release characteristics at least as good as a similargum base that includes wax.

In an embodiment, a wax-free chewing gum having chew characteristics atleast substantially as good as a similar chewing gum including wax isprovided comprising a water soluble bulk portion, one or more flavoragents, and a water insoluble base comprising: an elastomer; anelastomer; plasticizer; polyvinyl acetate; and a sufficient amount of atleast one oil chosen from the group consisting of cottonseed, soybean,canola, safflower, sunflower, palm, and coconut oil to achieve flavorrelease characteristics that are at least as good as a similar chewinggum that includes wax.

In another embodiment, a method for creating a wax-free gum basecomprising the steps of creating gum base from at least an elastomer, anelastomer plasticizer, polyvinyl acetate, and at least one oil selectedfrom the group consisting of cottonseed, soybean, canola, safflower,sunflower, palm, and coconut oil and choosing the oil content so as tocreate a gum base that is lower than a softening point of the gum basehad wax been present.

It is an advantage of the invention to provide a substantially wax-freegum base.

It is an advantage of the invention to provide a gum base that does notinclude wax but that can be shipped and stored without greatly reducedrefrigeration temperatures.

It is another advantage of the invention to provide a gum base that doesnot include wax but that has a sufficiently high glass transitiontemperature.

It is an advantage of the invention to provide a wax-free gum basehaving improved homogeneity during gum base and bubble gum processing.

It is further an advantage of the invention to provide a wax-free gumbase having improved processing characteristics and improved physicalcharacteristics when the gum base sets up after processing.

It is furthermore an advantage of the invention to provide a wax-freegum base having better flexibility with respect to the addition of othergum base ingredients that are added during processing.

It is another advantage of the invention to provide a wax-free bubblegum base having a higher glass transition temperature than substantiallysimilar wax-free bubble gum bases.

It is also an advantage of the invention to provide a suitably soft gumbase wherein wax is not needed to soften the gum base.

It is also an advantage of the invention to improve the compatibility ofgum base ingredients during the blending process.

It is also an advantage of the present invention to provide an improvedwax-free bubble gum base.

It is an advantage of the invention to provide an improved chewing gumwhich contains the wax-free chewing gum base of the invention.

It is also an advantage of the invention to provide an improved chewinggum made from the wax-free base which does not retain the amount offlavor typical sugarless gums retain after chewing.

It is also an advantage of the invention to provide an improved chewinggum that hydrates better during about one to three minutes of chewing.

It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a methodfor eliminating wax from a gum base and still provide a gum base thatcan create a resultant gum product having the characteristics of a gumproduct that includes wax.

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a wax free gumbase that can be used to create a chewing gum that has chewcharacteristics at least as good as chewing gum created from waxcontaining gum bases.

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a gum base thatis free of wax but when used to create a chewing gum has improved flavorrelease.

The foregoing and other features and advantages will become furtherapparent from the following detailed description of the presentlypreferred embodiments, when read in conjunction with the accompanyingexamples. It should be understood that the detailed description andexamples are illustrative rather than limitative, the scope of thepresent invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalentsthereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, graphically, temperature versus modulus for atypical gum base.

FIGS. 2-4 illustrate, graphically, glass transition temperatures for atypical wax-containing gum base, a wax-free gum base, and a wax-freeglycerol triacetate-free gum base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Cold flow is a change in the physical shape (deformation) of a gum base.Cold flow occurs when the ambient temperature exceeds the glasstransition (Tg) temperature of the gum base.

Cold flow causes independent gum base pellets or slabs, to join or fusetogether so that individual slabs or pellets cannot be removed fromtheir container or carton. Pelletized, or slab poured, gum base that isstored, or shipped, at temperatures above its glass transitiontemperature can deform. Subjected to gravitational forces, these slabsor pellets agglomerate, or mass together, with other pellets or slabs.

As used herein, glass transition temperature is the rheologicallydetermined temperature at which cold flow may begin to occur. Thetemperature at which the ratio of the storage modulus G' and the lossmodulus G" equals one is the glass transition temperature. As G' dropsbelow G" the base will become primarily viscous and will exhibit flowbehavior.

Although, as set forth in detail below, it has been discovered how toremove wax from gum bases, this has raised an issue with respect to atleast certain bubble gum bases. Specifically, it has been found thatcertain experimental wax-free bubble gum bases agglomerate at ambienttemperatures at which wax containing bubble gum bases did not.

It has been discovered that the unexpected agglomeration phenomenon isdue to the fact that the glass transition temperature of such bases isreduced. Further, as set forth in detail below, it has been discoveredhow this problem can be remedied. Specifically, it has been found thatby removing, or at least substantially reducing, vinyl polymer softenersfrom the gum base, the resultant gum base will have a higher glasstransition temperature. The gum base, with higher glass transitiontemperature is thereby able to withstand higher ambient temperatureswithout deformation.

For example, the glass transition temperature can be increased by notusing, or at least substantially reducing, vinyl polymer softeners suchas: benzyl benzoate; benzyl butyrate; benzyl phenol acetate; acetyltriethyl citrate; diethyl malonate; ethyl oleate; sucrose octaacetate;diacetyl tartaric acid ester of mono- and di-glycerides; stearylmonoglyceridyl citrate; succinylated glycerides; lactylic and glyceryllacto esters of fatty acids; butyl-2-decenoate; citronellyl butyrate;cresyl acetate; ethyl acetate; diethyl malonate; diethyl sebacate;triethyl citrate; diethyl succinate; glycerol tributyrate; ethyllaurate; ethyl acetoacetate; diethyl tartrate; glycerol triacetate; andethyl or butyl lactate in the gum base.

Generally, the gum bases of the present invention can comprise a varietyof formulations. In a preferred embodiment, the gum base is a bubble gumbase.

Generally, in accordance with the invention, a gum base is provided foruse in either non-tack or conventional chewing gum, which may be eitherbubble gum or chewing gum.

In an embodiment, the gum base of the present invention contains about10 to about 50 weight percent vinyl polymer, 5 to about 30 weightpercent soft elastomer, about 8 to about 30 weight percent elastomerplasticizer, about 5 to about 40 weight percent filler, about 1 to about20 weight percent softener, and optional minor amounts (about onepercent or less) of miscellaneous ingredients such as colorants,antioxidants, etc. The gum base is substantially free of the vinylpolymer softeners noted above. Thereby, the gum base has an increasedglass transition temperature and is resistant to deformation at elevatedambient temperatures.

Elastomers provide the rubbery cohesive nature of the chewing gum. Thecharacteristic varies depending on the elastomer's chemical structureand how it is blended with other ingredients. Both synthetic and naturalelastomers can be used.

Synthetic elastomers may include, but are not limited to,polyisobutylene with GPC weight average molecular weight of about 10,000to about 95,000, isobutylene-isoprene copolymer (butyl elastomer),styrene-butadiene copolymers having styrene-butadiene ratios of about1:3 to about 3:1, polyvinyl acetate having GPC weight average molecularweight of about 2,000 to about 90,000, polyisoprene, polyethylene, vinylacetate-vinyl laurate copolymer having vinyl laurate content of about 5to about 50 percent by weight of the copolymer, and combinationsthereof.

Preferred ranges are, for polyisobutylene, 50,000 to 80,000 GPC weightaverage molecular weight, for styrene-butadiene, 1:1 to 1:3 boundstyrene-butadiene, for polyvinyl acetate, 10,000 to 65,000 GPC weightaverage molecular weight with the higher molecular weight polyvinylacetates typically used in bubble gum base, and for vinyl acetate-vinyllaurate, vinyl laurate content of 10-45 percent.

Natural elastomers may include natural rubber such as smoked or liquidlatex and guayule as well as natural gums such as jelutong, lechi caspi,perillo, sorva, massaranduba balata, massaranduba chocolate, nispero,rosindinha, chicle, gutta percha, gutta kataiu, niger gutta, tunu,chilte, chiquibul, gutta hang kang, and combinations thereof. Thepreferred synthetic elastomer and natural elastomer concentrations varydepending on whether the chewing gum in which the base is used isadhesive or conventional, bubble gum or regular gum, as discussed below.The preferred natural elastomers are jelutong, chicle, sorva andmassaranduba balata.

In an embodiment, the preferred elastomers for use in the presentinvention include, but are not limited to, vinyl polymers such aspolyvinyl acetate and soft elastomers such as polyisobutylenes. The softelastomers may comprise, in an embodiment, from about 5 to about 30percent by weight, and in a preferred embodiment, from about 7 to about20 percent by weight.

The types of vinyl polymers that, in an embodiment, may be used in thepresent invention are those having GPC molecular weights greater than2000. Preferably, the vinyl polymers have a GPC molecular weight greaterthan 20,000 and more preferably, from about 28,000 to about 70,000 andis of the polyvinyl acetate type.

In an embodiment, the vinyl polymers are vinyl laurate/vinyl acetate.The types of vinyl laurate/vinyl acetate preferred are those having avinyl laurate content greater than 10 and preferably from about 15 toabout 45.

The types of soft elastomers suitable for the present invention arethose having GPC molecular weight greater than 2000. Preferably, thesoft elastomers have a GPC molecular weight of from 60000 to about 80000and more preferably, the soft elastomer within this range is of thepolyisobutylene type. The soft elastomers may be present from about 1 toabout 20 percent by weight and preferably from about 5 to about 15percent by weight.

Elastomer plasticizers vary the firmness of the gum base. The rubberplasticizing strength of elastomer plasticizers and their varyingsoftening points cause various degrees of finished gum firmness whenused in gum base. This is important when one wishes to use flavors thatdiffer in plasticizing strength of the gum base in finished gum.

Elastomer plasticizers may include, but are not limited to, naturalrosin esters such as glycerol esters of partially hydrogenated rosin,glycerol esters polymerized rosin, glycerol esters of partiallydimerized rosin, glycerol esters of rosin, pentaerythritol esters ofpartially hydrogenated rosin, methyl and partially hydrogenated methylesters of rosin, pentaerythritol esters of rosin; synthetics such asterpene resins derived from alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, and/ord-limonene; and any suitable combinations of the foregoing. Thepreferred elastomer plasticizers will also vary depending on thespecific application, and on the type of elastomer which is used.

Elastomer plasticizers, in an embodiment, can comprise preferablyapproximately 8 to about 30 weight percent of the gum base. In apreferred embodiment, the elastomer plasticizers comprise approximately12 to about 25% by weight.

Fillers modify the texture of the base and aid in processing.Fillers/texturizers may include magnesium and calcium carbonate, groundlimestone, silicate types such as magnesium and aluminum silicate, clay,alumina, talc, titanium oxide, mono-, di- and tri-calcium phosphate,cellulose polymers, such as wood, and combinations thereof.

Fillers can comprise from 0 to 50 percent by weight of the gum base. Ina preferred embodiment, fillers comprise approximately 25 to about 45percent by weight.

Softeners modify the texture and cause the hydrophobic and hydrophiliccomponents of the base/chewing gum to be miscible. Softeners/emulsifiersmay include: benzyl benzoate, benzyl butyrate, benzyl phenol acetate,acetyl triethyl citrate, diethyl malonate, ethyl oleate, sucroseoctaacetate, diacetyl tartaric acid ester of mono- and di-glycerides,stearyl monoglyceridyl citrate, succinylated glycerides, lactylic andglyceryl lacto esters of fatty acids, butyl-2-decenoate, citronellylbutyrate, cresyl acetate, ethyl acetate, diethyl malonate, diethylsebacate, triethyl citrate, diethyl succinate, glycerol tributyrate,ethyl laurate, ethyl acetoacetate, diethyl tartrate, glyceroltriacetate, ethyl or butyl lactate, tallow, hydrogenated tallow,hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, cocoa butter,glycerol monostearate, glycerol triacetate, lecithin, mono-, di- andtriglycerides, acetylated monoglycerides, fatty acids (e.g. stearic,palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids), and combinations thereof.Hydrogenated vegetable oils are generally preferred, either alone or incombination with other softeners. As discussed in detail below, theselection and amount of oils has been determined to, at least withrespect to certain bases and at least in part, compensate for theremoval of wax.

The preferred softeners for the present invention are fatty acid estersof glycerides, acetylated glycerides and vegetable oils, all having astheir main component fatty acids with carbon chain lengths greater than12 carbons. More preferable, in an embodiment, is the use of acetylatedmonoglycerides having as their main component fatty acids with carbonchain lengths greater than 14 carbons. It is further preferred to useacetylated monoglycerides that are greater than 50% acetylated.

The aforementioned softeners suitable for the present invention mayrange from about 1 to about 20 percent by weight of the gum base.Preferably, the softeners range from about 5 to 18 percent by weight ofthe base. This depends on the level and type of vinyl polymer used. Aratio of total vinyl polymer to total softener generally is from about45:1 to about 2:1 and preferably from about 16:1 to about 3:1, andpreferably from 10:1 to about 8:1.

Vinyl polymer softeners, such as benzyl benzoate, benzyl butyrate,benzyl phenol acetate, acetyl triethyl citrate, diethyl malonate, ethyloleate, sucrose octaacetate, diacetyl tartaric acid ester of mono- anddi-glycerides, stearyl monoglyceridyl citrate, succinylated glycerides,lactylic and glyceryl lacto esters of fatty acids, butyl-2-decenoate,citronellyl butyrate, cresyl acetate, ethyl acetate, diethyl malonate,diethyl sebacate, triethyl citrate, diethyl succinate, glyceroltributyrate, glycerol triacetate, ethyl laurate, ethyl acetoacetate,diethyl tartrate and ethyl or butyl lactate, by way of the presentinvention, are eliminated, or used at substantially reduced levels, inthe gum base. The result is improved cold-flow resistance at elevatedenvironmental or ambient temperatures.

However, the addition of the above vinyl polymer softeners, such asglycerol triacetate, during bubble gum or chewing gum manufacture isstill possible. With respect to glycerol triacetate, as well as theabove-identified softeners, because glycerol triacetate is not presentin the gum base, the gum base of the present invention can be stored atelevated temperatures. Glycerol triacetate, or other vinyl polymersofteners, can then be added during the gum making process. This may bedesirable in an effort to further soften the chewing gum itself.However, the disadvantages of having glycerol triacetate in a wax-freegum base will not be present using this method.

Although it is believed that waxes may aid in the curing of the chewinggum made from the gum base, as well as improve the release of flavor,shelf-life and texture, it has also been found that the elimination ofwax from the gum base decreases its glass transition temperature. Forpurposes of gum processing wherein the gum base needs to be softened andpumped into a gum mixer, this type of gum base with a lower glasstransition temperature would require less heat to soften and itssoftness can be maintained at less cost. During the molten base state,wax, since it is not present, cannot separate from the other baseingredients as previously mentioned.

The waxes eliminated from the present invention include synthetic waxessuch as polyethylene and Fischer-Tropsch waxes, natural waxes such ascandelilla, carnauba, beeswax, rice bran, petroleum waxes such asmicrocrystalline and paraffin and mixtures thereof.

Antioxidants prolong shelf-life and storage of gum base, finished gumand their respective components including fats and flavor oils.Antioxidants suitable for use in the gum base include butylatedhydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), beta-carotenes,tocopherols, acidulants such as Vitamin C, propyl gallate, othersynthetic and natural types or mixtures thereof.

Antioxidants may be used at a range of about 0 to about 10 percent byweight, of the gum base, depending on the type. Preferably, in anembodiment, antioxidants comprise from about 0 to about 0.1 percent byweight.

Colorants impart desired color characteristics or remove undesired colorby whitening the base. Colorants and whiteners may include FD&C-typedyes and lakes, fruit and vegetable extracts, titanium dioxide, andcombinations thereof. Colorants may range from 0 to about 5 percent byweight of the gum base. Preferably, colorants range from 0 to about 1percent by weight.

When the wax-free gum base of the invention is to be used in a chewinggum which has at least some adhesive (reduced tack) characteristics, thebase should preferably contain about 10 to about 40 weight percentsynthetic elastomer, about 15 to about 30 weight percent elastomerplasticizer, about 5 to about 30 weight percent filler, about 15 toabout 35 weight percent softener, 0 to about 1 weight percent colorantand 0 to about 0.1 weight percent antioxidant. By way of example,specific embodiments of the wax-free gum base are provided in Examples1-30 below.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        WAX-FREE GUM BASES FOR USE IN CHEWING GUM                                     HAVING SOME REDUCED TACK CHARACTERISTICS                                      (EXAMPLES 1-30)                                                                                IDENTIFICATION --                                            GENERIC INGREDIENTS                                                                            EXAMPLES #:                                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 1-4                                                                                   1       2       3     4                                      ______________________________________                                        ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  STYRENE-BUTADIENE                                                                              5.3     --      2.1   1.3                                    ELASTOMER                                                                     BUTYL (ISOPRENE- 8.6     7.9     7.2   14.8                                   ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                  ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE  7.1     --      7.4   5.2                                    ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              10.5    27.2    15.3  11.7                                   ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             2.1     --      19.0  --                                     ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             4.3     18.2    --    15.3                                   PART HYD ROSIN                                                                TERPENE RESINS   10.8    --      --    --                                     ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              --      15.9    20.7  --                                     TALC             25.5    --      --    17.1                                   ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED     15.3    22.6    24.3  28.4                                   VEGETABLE OIL                                                                 GLYCEROL         8.2     7.4     4.0   5.1                                    MONOSTEARATE                                                                  LECITHIN         2.3     0.8     --    1.1                                    TOTAL PERCENT    100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 5-8                                                                                   5       6        7    8                                      ______________________________________                                        ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  STYRENE-BUTADIENE                                                                              1.8     --      --    --                                     ELASTOMER                                                                     BUTYL (ISOPRENE- --      8.1     14.6  9.4                                    ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                  ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE  24.8    3.6     1.2   13.0                                   ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              10.1    27.3    26.2  22.3                                   ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             3.7     --      4.9   --                                     ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             7.9     --      12.6  --                                     PART HYD ROSIN                                                                TERPENE RESINS   7.1     26.8    --    10.0                                   ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              17.7    11.4    --    20.0                                   TALC             --      --      13.1  --                                     ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED     21.0    14.3    16.6  20.7                                   VEGETABLE OIL                                                                 GLYCEROL         3.5     4.8     9.6   4.6                                    MONOSTEARATE                                                                  LECITHIN         2.4     3.7     1.2   --                                     TOTAL PERCENT    100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 9-12                                                                                  9       10      11    12                                     ______________________________________                                        ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  STYRENE-BUTADIENE                                                                              5.2     2.1     4.3   5.9                                    ELASTOMER                                                                     BUTYL (ISOPRENE- 4.1     7.2     6.2   6.9                                    ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                  ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE  5.9     7.3     6.4   2.0                                    ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              25.7    15.3    21.8  24.8                                   ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             23.5    19.1    2.6   8.6                                    ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             --      --      --    8.0                                    PART HYD ROSIN                                                                TERPENE RESINS   3.2     --      17.1  1.9                                    ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              15.1    20.7    --    9.9                                    TALC             --      --      14.6  7.2                                    ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED     12.2    24.3    19.5  21.1                                   VEGETABLE OIL                                                                 GLYCEROL         5.1     4.0     4.4   3.7                                    MONOSTEARATE                                                                  LECITHIN         --      --      3.1   --                                     TOTAL PERCENT    100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 13-16                                                                                 13      14      15    16                                     ______________________________________                                        ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  STYRENE-BUTADIENE                                                                              3.9     --      2.1   1.6                                    ELASTOMER                                                                     BUTYL (ISOPRENE- 5.3     9.3     6.0   3.7                                    ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                  ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE  12.7    12.0    8.5   6.8                                    ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              14.9    21.0    15.3  22.3                                   ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             --      --      10.1  9.9                                    ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             --      --      8.9   4.3                                    PART HYD ROSIN                                                                TERPENE RESINS   21.4    6.3     --    11.6                                   ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              13.7    21.0    20.9  --                                     TALC             1.4     --      --    17.2                                   ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED     18.7    25.0    24.2  17.8                                   VEGETABLE OIL                                                                 GLYCEROL         5.7     3.0     4.0   4.8                                    MONOSTEARATE                                                                  LECITHIN         2.3     --      --    --                                     TOTAL PERCENT    100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 17-20                                                                                 17      18      19    20                                     ______________________________________                                        ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  STYRENE-BUTADIENE                                                                              --      2.7     --    --                                     ELASTOMER                                                                     BUTYL (ISOPRENE- 8.1     2.3     8.9   3.6                                    ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                  ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE  3.6     14.2    10.0  11.1                                   ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              27.3    17.3    21.3  21.9                                   ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             --      --      --    19.6                                   ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             --      27.3    --    11.2                                   PART HYD ROSIN                                                                TERPENE RESINS   26.9    --      9.7   3.7                                    ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              11.3    --      21.5  6.4                                    TALC             --      8.2     --    --                                     ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED     14.3    22.4    23.2  19.2                                   VEGETABLE OIL                                                                 GLYCEROL         4.8     2.7     5.4   3.3                                    MONOSTEARATE                                                                  LECITHIN         3.7     2.9     --    --                                     TOTAL PERCENT    100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 21-24                                                                                 21      22      23    24                                     ______________________________________                                        ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  STYRENE-BUTADIENE                                                                              --      1.4     3.2   --                                     ELASTOMER                                                                     BUTYL (ISOPRENE- 7.4     8.4     7.3   8.8                                    ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                  ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE  1.9     1.6     7.5   3.5                                    ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              24.8    23.1    21.1  27.9                                   ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             --      13.1    15.3  --                                     ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             --      22.1    2.4   --                                     PART HYD ROSIN                                                                TERPENE RESINS   25.8    3.6     5.8   27.4                                   ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              18.6    --      --    11.9                                   TALC             --      7.3     14.8  --                                     ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED     12.3    11.3    19.8  12.3                                   VEGETABLE OIL                                                                 GLYCEROL         4.4     4.4     2.8   4.7                                    MONOSTEARATE                                                                  LECITHIN         4.8     3.7     --    3.5                                    TOTAL PERCENT    100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 25-28                                                                                 25      26      27    28                                     ______________________________________                                        ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  STYRENE-BUTADIENE                                                                              4.1     --      --    --                                     ELASTOMER                                                                     BUTYL (ISOPRENE- 11.3    10.0    9.2   2.4                                    ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                  ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE  7.9     1.9     6.3   8.4                                    ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              18.2    27.6    13.1  20.5                                   ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             --      --      --    --                                     ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             26.2    --      19.9  --                                     PART HYD ROSIN                                                                TERPENE RESINS   1.4     25.3    --    23.5                                   ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              13.6    11.3    22.3  --                                     TALC             --      --      --    15.6                                   ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED     8.2     15.4    18.6  19.2                                   VEGETABLE OIL                                                                 GLYCEROL         5.2     4.8     10.6  8.9                                    MONOSTEARATE                                                                  LECITHIN         3.9     3.7     --    1.5                                    TOTAL PERCENT    100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 29-30                                                                                    29      30                                                ______________________________________                                        ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  STYRENE-BUTADIENE                                                             ELASTOMER           --      --                                                BUTYL (ISOPRENE-    8.3     8.8                                               ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                  ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE     3.6     2.3                                               ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE   27.5    27.4                                              ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF  --      --                                                ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF  --      --                                                PART HYD ROSIN                                                                TERPENE RESINS      25.3    28.3                                              ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE   11.3    12.5                                              TALC                --      --                                                ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED        16.5    12.5                                              VEGETABLE OIL                                                                 GLYCEROL            4.8     4.7                                               MONOSTEARATE                                                                  LECITHIN            2.7     3.5                                               TOTAL PERCENT       100.0   100.0                                             ______________________________________                                    

When the wax-free gum base of the invention is to be used in a chewinggum which does not have adhesive characteristics, the base shouldpreferably contain about 12 to about 30 weight percent naturalelastomer, about 20 to about 40 weight percent synthetic elastomer,about 4 to about 25 weight percent elastomer plasticizer, about 5 toabout 25 weight percent filler, about 15 to about 30 weight percentsoftener, 0 to about 0.1 weight percent colorant and 0 to about 0.1weight percent antioxidant. By way of example, specific embodiments ofthe wax-free gum base fitting this description are provided in Examples31-55 below:

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        WAX-FREE GUM BASES FOR USE IN CHEWING GUM                                     HAVING SOME REDUCED TACK CHARACTERISTICS                                      (EXAMPLES 31-55)                                                                               IDENTIFICATION --                                            GENERIC INGREDIENTS                                                                            EXAMPLES #:                                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 31-34                                                                                 31      32      33    34                                     ______________________________________                                        ** NATURAL                                                                    ELASTOMER **                                                                  NATURAL GUM      22.0    26.5    23.4  25.1                                   ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  STYRENE-BUTADIENE                                                                              --      --      --    1.9                                    ELASTOMER                                                                     BUTYL (ISOPRENE- 4.8     7.1     5.6   2.1                                    ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                  ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE  5.7     5.6     3.0   4.7                                    ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              16.4    18.7    19.8  24.8                                   ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             3.8     --      --    3.2                                    ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             12.3    15.3    15.9  12.6                                   PART HYD ROSIN                                                                METHYL ESTERS OF --      --      --    2.1                                    ROSIN                                                                         TERPENE RESINS   --      --      --    --                                     ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              --      4.0     10.7  4.4                                    TALC             7.1     --      --    --                                     ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED     21.8    18.4    16.8  12.6                                   VEGETABLE OIL                                                                 GLYCEROL         6.1     4.4     4.8   3.8                                    MONOSTEARATE                                                                  LECITHIN         --      --      --    2.7                                    TOTAL PERCENT    100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 35-38                                                                                 35      36      37    38                                     ______________________________________                                        ** NATURAL                                                                    ELASTOMER **                                                                  NATURAL GUM      22.8    18.2    23.5  17.6                                   ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  STYRENE-BUTADIENE                                                                              2.6     --      --    --                                     ELASTOMER                                                                     BUTYL (ISOPRENE- 4.1     6.9     8.8   10.2                                   ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                  ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE  3.2     5.4     3.3   2.1                                    ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              16.3    15.2    12.9  26.9                                   ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             6.9     --       8.65 11.7                                   ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             11.8    12.5    5.5   4.8                                    PART HYD ROSIN                                                                METHYL ESTERS OF 1.7     2.6     1.4   --                                     ROSIN                                                                         TERPENE RESINS   --      --      3.7   --                                     ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              9.3     16.0    --    --                                     TALC             --      --      9.3   4.6                                    ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED     18.2    16.1    16.2  15.8                                   VEGETABLE OIL                                                                 GLYCEROL         --      7.1     5.7   6.3                                    MONOSTEARATE                                                                  LECITHIN         3.1     --      1.2   --                                     TOTAL PERCENT    100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 39-42                                                                                 39       40     41    42                                     ______________________________________                                        ** NATURAL                                                                    ELASTOMER **                                                                  NATURAL GUM      12.9    18.5    15.7  22.6                                   ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  STYRENE-BUTADIENE                                                                              --      --      1.9   --                                     ELASTOMER                                                                     BUTYL (ISOPRENE- 9.1     6.4     3.7   5.8                                    ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                  ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE  9.4     5.2     4.1   3.1                                    ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              10.7    15.4    26.2  20.4                                   ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             15.2    --      --    --                                     ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             --      13.2    15.3  11.7                                   PART HYD ROSIN                                                                METHYL ESTERS OF --      2.0     --    4.0                                    ROSIN                                                                         TERPENE RESINS   --      --      --    --                                     ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              20.6    18.5    12.2  11.6                                   TALC             --      --      --    --                                     ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED     15.8    13.9    15.1  17.5                                   VEGETABLE OIL                                                                 GLYCEROL         6.3     6.9     5.8   3.3                                    MONOSTEARATE                                                                  LECITHIN         --      --      --    --                                     TOTAL PERCENT    100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 43-46                                                                                 43      44      45    46                                     ______________________________________                                        ** NATURAL                                                                    ELASTOMER **                                                                  NATURAL GUM      23.7    22.2    21.1  22.2                                   ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  STYRENE-BUTADIENE                                                                              --      --      --    --                                     ELASTOMER                                                                     BUTYL (ISOPRENE- 6.2     5.7     6.1   5.7                                    ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                  ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE  5.9     3.1     2.8   3.1                                    ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              23.7    22.0    18.0  22.0                                   ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             --      --      15.7  --                                     ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             11.3    15.2    --    13.2                                   PART HYD ROSIN                                                                METHYL ESTERS OF 2.9     --      --    2.0                                    ROSIN                                                                         TERPENE RESINS   2.8     --      --    --                                     ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              5.6     11.4    --    11.3                                   TALC             --      --      15.4  --                                     ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED     12.1    17.2    15.1  17.2                                   VEGETABLE OIL                                                                 GLYCEROL         5.8     3.3     5.8   3.3                                    MONOSTEARATE                                                                  LECITHIN         --      --      --    --                                     TOTAL PERCENT    100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 47-50                                                                                 47      48      49    50                                     ______________________________________                                        ** NATURAL                                                                    ELASTOMER **                                                                  NATURAL GUM      23.8    28.4    18.7  19.5                                   ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  STYRENE-BUTADIENE                                                                              --      --      --    --                                     ELASTOMER                                                                     BUTYL (ISOPRENE- 3.1     5.4     6.0   8.2                                    ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                  ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE  7.7     3.1     5.5   2.7                                    ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              20.5    26.6    14.8  17.2                                   ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             --      --      --    20.0                                   ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             10.4    11.4    15.5  --                                     PART HYD ROSIN                                                                METHYL ESTERS OF 2.0     --      --    --                                     ROSIN                                                                         TERPENE RESINS   5.1     --      --    --                                     ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              --      9.1     17.9  9.6                                    TALC             5.3     --      --    --                                     ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED     15.8    16.0    13.0  22.8                                   VEGETABLE OIL                                                                 GLYCEROL         6.3     --      7.7   --                                     MONOSTEARATE                                                                  LECITHIN         --      --      --    --                                     TOTAL PERCENT    100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 51-54                                                                                 51      52      53    54                                     ______________________________________                                        ** NATURAL                                                                    ELASTOMER **                                                                  NATURAL GUM      14.4    18.2    25.2  25.2                                   ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  STYRENE-BUTADIENE                                                                              --      --      --    --                                     ELASTOMER                                                                     BUTYL (ISOPRENE- 9.1     6.8     2.4   3.5                                    ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                  ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE  3.6     5.4     4.9   5.7                                    ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              18.1    15.5    19.9  19.1                                   ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             11.9    --      15.6  --                                     ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             13.0    12.7    --    15.6                                   PART HYD ROSIN                                                                METHYL ESTERS OF --      2.6     --    --                                     ROSIN                                                                         TERPENE RESINS   --      --      2.1   1.9                                    ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              14.1    15.7    --    --                                     TALC             --      --      7.1   6.2                                    ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED     15.8    16.0    18.4  18.4                                   VEGETABLE OIL                                                                 GLYCEROL         --      7.1     4.4   4.4                                    MONOSTEARATE                                                                  LECITHIN         --      --      --    --                                     TOTAL PERCENT    100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLE 55                                                                                     55                                                           ______________________________________                                        ** NATURAL                                                                    ELASTOMER **                                                                  NATURAL GUM      26.7                                                         ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  STYRENE-BUTADIENE                                                                              --                                                           ELASTOMER                                                                     BUTYL (ISOPRENE- 3.2                                                          ISOBUTYLENE)                                                                  ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYISOBUTYLENE  6.1                                                          ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              17.6                                                         ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             --                                                           ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             15.6                                                         PART HYD ROSIN                                                                METHYL ESTERS OF --                                                           ROSIN                                                                         TERPENE RESINS   --                                                           ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              --                                                           TALC             8.0                                                          ** SOFTENER **                                                                HYDROGENATED     18.4                                                         VEGETABLE OIL                                                                 GLYCEROL         2.8                                                          MONOSTEARATE                                                                  LECITHIN         1.6                                                          TOTAL PERCENT    100.0                                                        ______________________________________                                    

When the wax-free gum base of the invention is to be used in a bubblegum, in an embodiment, the base should preferably contain about 30 toabout 60 weight percent synthetic elastomer, about 5 to about 55 weightpercent elastomer plasticizer, about 10 to about 35 weight percentfiller, about 5 to about 25 weight percent softener, 0 to about 1 weightpercent colorant and 0 to about 0.1 weight percent antioxidant. By wayof examples, embodiments of the wax-free base for use in bubble gum areprovided in Examples 56-74 below. These examples, however, are notdirected to bubble gum bases having improved glass transitiontemperatures.

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        WAX-FREE GUM BASES FOR USE IN BUBBLE GUM                                      (EXAMPLES 56-74)                                                                               IDENTIFICATION --                                            GENERIC INGREDIENTS                                                                            EXAMPLES #:                                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 56-59                                                                                 56      57      58    59                                     ______________________________________                                        ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  POLYISOBUTYLENE  17.1    16.7    11.7  6.2                                    ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              24.9    25.6    29.4  30.9                                   ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             6.8     8.0     10.7  14.6                                   ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             --      --      --    --                                     PART HYD ROSIN                                                                ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              --      --      --    --                                     TALC             34.7    34.9    34.1  34.0                                   ** SOFTENER **                                                                GLYCEROL TRIACETATE                                                                            4.6     3.9     4.4   4.7                                    GLYCEROL         5.8     5.7     4.3   4.6                                    MONOSTEARATE                                                                  ACETYLATED       6.1     5.2     5.4   5.0                                    MONOGLYCERIDE                                                                 TOTAL PERCENT    100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 60-63                                                                                 60      61      62    63                                     ______________________________________                                        ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  POLYISOBUTYLENE  11.6    15.7    13.2  5.4                                    ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              31.5    32.1    33.2  34.8                                   ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             19.8    27.4    22.6  16.3                                   ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             --      --      --    --                                     PART HYD ROSIN                                                                ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              --      --      --    30.2                                   TALC             21.9    10.1    17.3  --                                     ** SOFTENER **                                                                GLYCEROL TRIACETATE                                                                            5.0     4.9     5.0   5.3                                    GLYCEROL         4.9     4.7     4.1   5.9                                    MONOSTEARATE                                                                  ACETYLATED       5.3     5.1     4.6   2.1                                    MONOGLYCERIDE                                                                 TOTAL PERCENT    100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 64-67                                                                                 64      65      66    67                                     ______________________________________                                        ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  POLYISOBUTYLENE  7.9     17.2    13.0  11.6                                   ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              34.2    37.3    37.1  39.9                                   ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             14.8    11.2    --    --                                     ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             --      --      19.8  19.9                                   PART HYD ROSIN                                                                ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              29.8    20.6    16.5  15.0                                   TALC             --      --      --    --                                     ** SOFTENER **                                                                GLYCEROL TRIACETATE                                                                            5.3     5.6     5.6   6.0                                    GLYCEROL         5.0     8.1     8.0   7.6                                    MONOSTEARATE                                                                  ACETYLATED       3.0     --      --    --                                     MONOGLYCERIDE                                                                 TOTAL PERCENT    100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 68-71                                                                                 68      69      70    71                                     ______________________________________                                        ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  POLYISOBUTYLENE  11.6    7.9     11.6  10.9                                   ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              41.2    34.2    37.8  37.5                                   ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             --      --      --    --                                     ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             19.4    14.8    19.8  20.6                                   PART HYD ROSIN                                                                ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              --      29.8    --    --                                     TALC             14.0    --      17.0  19.5                                   ** SOFTENER **                                                                GLYCEROL TRIACETATE                                                                            6.2     5.3     5.6   5.2                                    GLYCEROL         7.6     5.0     3.2   3.1                                    MONOSTEARATE                                                                  ACETYLATED       --      3.0     5.0   3.2                                    MONOGLYCERIDE                                                                 TOTAL PERCENT    100.0   100.0   100.0 100.0                                  ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 72-74                                                                                 72        73      74                                         ______________________________________                                        ** SYNTHETIC                                                                  ELASTOMER **                                                                  POLYISOBUTYLENE  11.6      11.8    11.9                                       ELASTOMER                                                                     POLYVINYL ACETATE                                                                              33.5      35.6    37.0                                       ** ELASTOMER                                                                  PLASTICIZERS **                                                               GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             --        --      --                                         ROSIN                                                                         GLYCEROL ESTERS OF                                                                             19.8      19.8    20.3                                       PART HYD ROSIN                                                                ** FILLER **                                                                  CALCIUM CARBONATE                                                                              --        --      --                                         TALC             21.9      19.7    16.7                                       ** SOFTENER **                                                                GLYCEROL TRIACETATE                                                                            5.0       4.3     5.7                                        GLYCEROL         2.9       2.3     4.5                                        MONOSTEARATE                                                                  ACETYLATED       5.3       6.5     3.9                                        MONOGLYCERIDE                                                                 TOTAL PERCENT    100.0     100.0   100.0                                      ______________________________________                                    

The wax-free gum base of the invention constitutes about 5-95 weightpercent of the chewing gum, more typically 10-50 weight percent of thechewing gum, and most commonly 20-35 weight percent of the chewing gum.The gum base is typically prepared by adding an amount of the elastomer,elastomer plasticizers and filler to a heated sigma blade mixer with afront to rear blade speed ratio of typically 2:1. The initial amounts ofingredients are determined by the working capacity of the mixing kettlein order to attain a proper consistency. After the initial ingredientshave homogeneously massed, the balance of the elastomer plasticizer,filler, softeners, etc. are added in a sequential manner until acompletely homogeneous molten mass is attained. This can usually beachieved in one to four hours, depending on the formulation. The finalmass temperature can be between 60° C. and 150° C., more preferablybetween 70° C. and 120° C. The completed molten mass is emptied from themixing kettle into coated or lined pans, extruded or cast into anydesirable shape and allowed to cool and solidify.

Although the above method for making base is typical and applies to bothchewing and bubble gum bases, a preferred method for making a bubble gumbase with improved glass transition temperatures, pursuant to thepresent invention, is as follows.

The gum base of the present invention may be prepared by adding thevinyl polymer, all or part of the filler, and all or part of the softelastomer into a heated sigma blade mixer with a front to rear speedratio of typically 2:1. The initial amounts of ingredients is determinedby the working consistency. After the initial ingredients begin to massor have homogeneously massed, the balance of the filler, soft elastomerand all or part of the acetylated monoglyceride are added in asequential manner until a completely homogeneous molten mass isattained.

The acetylated monoglyceride and other softeners may be added at anytime during or after the second addition. Preferably, the acetylatedmonoglyceride is added during the second or third addition to soften thevinyl polymer, uninhibited by other gum base ingredients which may bepresent. The other softeners are preferably added near the end of theprocess.

The homogeneity of the final mass may be achieved in one to three hours,depending on the formulation. The final mass temperature can be between60° C. and 150° C. and preferably between 70° C. and 120° C. Thecompleted molten mass is emptied from the mixing kettle into coated orlined pans, extruded, pelletized or cast into any desirable shape andallowed to cool and solidify.

To the gum base is added a water-soluble portion to create a chewinggum. The water-soluble portion of the chewing gum may comprisesofteners, sweeteners, flavoring agents, and combinations thereof.

Softeners are added to the chewing gum in order to optimize thechewability and mouth feel of the gum. Softeners, also known in the artas plasticizers or plasticizing agents, generally constitute betweenabout 0.5 to about 15.0 percent by weight of the chewing gum. Softenerscontemplated by the present invention include glycerin, lecithin, andcombinations thereof. Further, aqueous sweetener solutions such as thosecontaining sorbitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, corn syrup andcombinations thereof may be used as softeners and binding agents in gum.

By way of the present invention, a softener such as glycerol triacetatesoftener may be added during the process of making the gum containingthe gum base of the present invention. The amount of glycerol triacetateadded varies depending on the degree of softness desired in the finalchewing gum product.

It has been found that when utilizing the gum base of the presentinvention that the level of glycerol triacetate that, if desired, needsto be added during the gum making process is less than that levelnecessary if the base contains glycerol triacetate. This is a furtheradvantage of the present invention.

For example, if a gum base containing about 4 percent glyceroltriacetate, by weight of the gum base, was used in a gum at a level of30 percent by weight of the gum, the level of glycerol triacetatepresent in the gum would be about 1.2 percent. However, lower levels ofglycerol triacetate are needed in the gum since gum processingtemperatures are much less than base processing temperatures. Theselower gum processing temperatures volatilize less glycerol triacetate,leaving more available in the gum to soften the gum base.

Suitable levels of glycerol triacetate to add during the gum makingprocess for the present invention are from about 0.1 percent to about1.5 percent by weight of the gum. Preferably, in an embodiment, thelevel of glycerol triacetate in the resultant gum composition is fromabout 0.3 percent to about 1.3 percent and in an embodiment from about0.5 percent to about 1.3 percent by weight. In a further preferredembodiment, the chewing gum includes from about 0.5 percent to about 0.9percent by weight of glycerol triacetate.

The addition of the glycerol triacetate to the gum base may be made atany time during the gum making process. Preferably, the glyceroltriacetate is added together or within 5 minutes of when the gum base isadded.

There are some variations to the above described preferred method whichin no way limit the method as described. Those skilled in the art of gumbase manufacture should be able to appreciate such variations.

In producing wax-containing gum bases high in polyvinyl acetate, andparticularly those high in high molecular weight polyvinyl acetate, itmay be necessary to improve blending of the ingredients by removing theheat applied to the sigma blade mixer at some point in the process. Thisreduces the temperature of the gum base and causes greater compatibilityof its ingredients. In the inventive gum base making process for makingthe inventive gum base free of wax, there is no need to remove the heatapplied. The degree of incompatibility is greatly reduced since there isno wax present.

In addition to the water-insoluble gum base, a typical gum compositionincludes a water soluble bulk portion and one or more flavoring agents.The wax-free gum base of the invention can be used with any typicalchewing gum composition.

The water soluble portion of the gum may include softeners, bulksweeteners, high intensity sweeteners, flavoring agents and combinationsthereof. As noted above, softeners are added to the gum in order tooptimize the chewability and mouth feel. The softeners, which are alsoknown as plasticizers or plasticizing agents, generally constitutebetween about 0.5-15% by weight of the gum. The softeners may includeglycerin, lecithin, and combinations thereof. Aqueous sweetenersolutions such as those containing sorbitol, hydrogenated starchhydrolysates, corn syrup and combinations thereof, may also be used assofteners and binding agents in chewing gum.

Bulk sweeteners constitute between 5-95% by weight of the gum, moretypically 20-80% by weight of the gum and most commonly 30-60% by weightof the gum. Bulk sweeteners may include both sugar and sugarlesssweeteners and components. Sugar sweeteners may include saccharidecontaining components including but not limited to sucrose, dextrose,maltose, dextrin, dried invert sugar, fructose, levulose, galactose,corn syrup solids, and the like, alone or in combination. Sugarlesssweeteners include components with sweetening characteristics but aredevoid of the commonly known sugars. Sugarless sweeteners include butare not limited to sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol,hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, maltitol, and the like, alone or incombination.

High intensity sweeteners may also be present and are commonly used withsugarless sweeteners. When used, high intensity sweeteners typicallyconstitute between 0.001-5% by weight of the gum, preferably between0.01-1% by weight of the gum. Typically, high intensity sweeteners areat least 20 times sweeter than sucrose. These may include but are notlimited to sucralose, aspartame, salts of acesulfame, alitame, saccharinand its salts, cyclamic acid and its salts, glycyrrhizin,dihydrochalcones, thaumatin, monellin, and the like, alone or incombination.

Combinations of sugar and/or sugarless sweeteners may be used in gum.The sweetener may also function in the gum in whole or in part as awater soluble bulking agent. Additionally, the softener may also provideadditional sweetness such as with aqueous sugar or alditol solutions.

Flavoring agents should generally be present in the gum in an amountwithin the range of about 0.1-15% by weight of the gum, preferablybetween about 0.2-5% by weight of the gum, most preferably between about0.5-3% by weight of the gum. Flavoring agents may include essentialoils, synthetic flavors or mixtures thereof including but not limited tooils derived from plants and fruits such as citrus oils, fruit essences,peppermint oil, spearmint oil, other mint oils, clove oil, oil ofwintergreen, anise and the like. Artificial flavoring agents andcomponents may also be used. Natural and artificial flavoring agents maybe combined in any sensorially acceptable fashion.

Optional ingredients such as colors, emulsifiers, pharmaceutical agentsand additional flavoring agents may also be included in gum.

Chewing or bubble gum is generally manufactured by sequentially addingthe various gum ingredients to any commercially available mixer known inthe art. After the ingredients have been thoroughly mixed, the gum massis discharged from the mixer and shaped into the desired form such as byrolling into sheets and cutting into sticks, extruding into chunks, orcasting into pellets. Generally, the ingredients are mixed by firstmelting the gum base and adding it to the running mixer. The gum basemay alternatively be melted in the mixer. Color and emulsifiers can beadded at this time.

A softener such as glycerin can be added next along with syrup and partof the bulk portion. Further parts of the bulk portion may then be addedto the mixer. Flavoring agents are typically added with the final partof the bulk portion. The entire mixing process typically takes from fiveto fifteen minutes, although longer mixing times are sometimes required.Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations of this mixingprocedure, or other mixing procedures, may be followed.

Pursuant to the present invention, methods are provided for eliminatingthe wax from a gum base yet still providing a gum base that yields a gumhaving desirable characteristics. Of course, a great number of gum basesare known, many of which have been, or are, commercial products. Theinventors believe that the great majority of these bases are waxcontaining. Indeed, it is further believed that there are only a fewspecialized formulas that do not contain wax; these formulas having beenmodified to achieve certain properties at the expense of certaindesirable properties that are typically present in a wax containing gumand therefore do not provide a wax-free gum base that can be used tocreate a gum having characteristics as good as or better than a gumincluding wax. It would therefore be desirable to provide a method forcreating a wax free product in those situations where public perceptionor regulatory requirements make a wax-free base necessary and/ordesirable.

The inventors have found that one method for eliminating wax from a gumbase is to eliminate the wax from the typical formula and increase theproportion of at least select oils in the base sufficiently tocompensate for the removal of the wax. It is not necessary for a one toone correspondence to be made with respect to the amount of wax deletedand the proportion of oil increased. Rather, in order to afford thenecessary characteristics to the resultant gum, the amount and type ofoils chosen are selected to create a composition that has chewcharacteristics, including flavor release, as good as a wax based gum.

More specifically, in an embodiment of the method and composition of thepresent invention, the amount of and the capillary melting point (CMP)of the oil component are chosen so that the resultant no wax gum basehas a softening point lower than that of a corresponding wax containinggum base. The softening point of the base is determined by using ASTMmethod E28-58T modified whereby the gum base sample is softened in anoven and molded into a shouldered brass ring and trimmed. The sample isplaced in a water and glycerine bath and adjusted to a temperature riseof 1° C. ±0.25° C. per minute.

By so choosing the oils and reducing the softening point of the base,this provides for a better release of the flavors. It has been foundthat preferably the oils have a CMP of approximately 40° C. to about 70°C. Preferably, the oils comprise substantially hydrogenated oils.Preferred hydrogenated oils include cottonseed oil (60°-65° C.) andsoybean oil (65°- 70° C.). However, other oils can also be used such ascanola, safflower, sunflower, palm, and coconut. It has been found thatpreferably when hydrogenated oils are used, the oils comprise at least12% by weight of the gum base.

Partially hydrogenated oils can be used in conjunction with thehydrogenated oils. Preferably, the partially hydrogenated oils havemelting points of 45°-50° C. In an embodiment, preferably the partiallyhydrogenated oils are used at 10% or less with respect to the totalcontent of the base.

As used herein, the term "oil" is used broadly and includes hydrogenatedoils and those products that technically may be classified as fats.

Additionally, it has been found that the selection of the elastomerplasticizer can contribute and improve the characteristics of a gum baseproduct when the wax is removed. In this regard, the ring and ballsoftening points (R&B SP) of the elastomer plasticizer may also beimportant with respect to a no wax product. Preferably, in an embodimentof the no wax gum base of the present invention, the elastomerplasticizer has a R&B SP of about 60° C. to about 135° C. Such elastomerplasticizers include: dimerized rosin ester (80°-130° C.); glycerolester of rosin (80°-90° C.); glycerol ester of partially hydrogenatedrosin (75°-90° C.); and terpene resin (80°-130° C.).

Pursuant to the present invention, a method is provided for removing thewax from a typical wax containing gum base formula. To this end, in anembodiment, when the gum base from which the wax is to be removedoriginally contains approximately 5% or less wax, in the initial step inthe process, the wax is removed from the formula and the othercomponents are increased proportionately. It is not necessary that eachcomponent be increased, or that each component be increased to the exactsame extent. Rather, at least the majority of the components areincreased, and preferably proportionately.

After the reformulation of the gum base, the resultant gum base is thentested. To this end, the gum base can be tested to determine itsphysical properties, e.g., rheology, to determine if those propertiesare at least substantially similar to the original wax containing gumbase. If desired, the gum base can be used to create a chewing gum. Thechewing gum can then be tested to determine if it has chewcharacteristics that are sufficiently close to, if not better, than acontrol (a gum created from the original gum base containing wax).

If it is found that the resultant gum does not have sufficiently goodchew characteristics, or if the physical properties of the gum base arenot satisfactory, then the percent of oil in the gum base is modified.In an embodiment, the percent of oil is not initially modified, butrather, the melting point of the oil is modified. For example, themelting point is increased by adding oils that have a higher meltingpoint and reducing the oils that have a lower melting point. Again, theresultant gum base is tested or a chewing gum is created from the baseand the chew characteristics of the gum are tested.

If the gum base, or the chew characteristics of the gum, are still notsatisfactory, then further modifications can be made to the percent ofoil and/or the melting point of the oil in the gum base. As a furtherstep, the melting point of the elastomer plasticizer in the wax-freebase can be modified. It has been found that the melting point of theelastomer plasticizer in the gum base contributes to the chewcharacteristics. Utilizing these steps, one should be able to eliminatethe wax from a gum base without compromising the chew characteristics.

If the gum base originally contains approximately 5% or greater waxcontent, then the initial step in the process is preferably to eliminatethe wax and to increase the oil content proportionately. As previouslystated, it is not necessary that the oils be increased in a proportionthat corresponds exactly to the original wax content. Rather, the oilsare at least increased so as to substantially make up for theelimination of the wax portion. The resultant gum base is then eithertested or can then be used to create a chewing gum that is then comparedto the control to determine its chew characteristics.

If the characteristics of the resultant gum base are not satisfactory,then the melting point of the oil is modified slightly. Again, toachieve an increase in the melting point in the oil, the oils having ahigher melting point, for example, soybean, are increased and the oilshaving a lower melting point, for example, cotton-seed oil, are reduced.

The gum base is again tested. If it is found that the gum base does notprovide satisfactory characteristics, then the melting point of the oilcan be further modified.

As an alternative, the proportion of the oil contained in the base canbe modified.

If a satisfactory gum base is not created through the step of modifyingthe melting point of the oil, then the melting point of the elastomerplasticizer is modified.

By using this method, wax can be removed from a gum base that originallycontains approximately 5% or greater wax and a wax free gum base can becreated that can be used to make a gum having chew characteristics asgood as, if not better than, a gum created from a gum base containingwax.

By way of example, and not limitation, examples of wax containing gumbases (controls) are compared to no wax bases that were reformulatedfrom the control formulas pursuant to the present invention will now begiven:

    ______________________________________                                        I. CHEWING GUMS                                                               EXAMPLES 75-90                                                                                               77                                             Type:      75          76      Control                                        ______________________________________                                        Elastomer  18.5        18.5    15.5                                           PVAc       13.1        13.1    13.1                                           Elastomer  19.9        19.9    19.9                                           Plasticizer                                                                   Wax        --          --      19.7                                           Hyd. Veg. Oil                                                                            13.8        13.8     6.3                                           Softening Point                                                                          57° C.                                                                             57° C.                                                                         80° C.                                  ______________________________________                                                            79               81                                       Type:      78       Control   80     Control                                  ______________________________________                                        Elastomer  11.7     11.7      12.3   12.6                                     PVAc       27.3     27.3      27.4   27.4                                     Elastomer  26.9     26.9      27.4   25.9                                     Plasticizer                                                                   Hyd. Veg. Oil                                                                            14.3      2.0      12.3    3.2                                     Wax        --       13.3      --     12.4                                     Softening Point                                                                          56° C.                                                                          70° C.                                                                           60° C.                                                                        73° C.                            ______________________________________                                                                   84           86                                    Type       82      83      Control                                                                              85    Control                               ______________________________________                                        Elastomer  11.1    18.9    18.7   16.7  16.7                                  PVAc       27.4    21.3    21.5   15.3  15.2                                  Elastomer  27.4     9.7     9.6   19.0  19.1                                  Plasticizer                                                                   Hyd. Veg. Oil                                                                            13.6    23.2    19.5   21.4  14.3                                  Wax        --      --       4.3   --    10.0                                  Softening Point                                                                          53° C.                                                                         57° C.                                                                         63° C.                                                                        59° C.                                                                       67° C.                         ______________________________________                                                            88                                                        Type:      87       Control   89     90                                       ______________________________________                                        Elastomer  11.9     11.9      11.7   26.0                                     PVAc       27.5     27.6      27.3   21.7                                     Elastomer  25.3     25.3      26.9   --                                       Plasticizer                                                                   Wax        --       14.4      --     --                                       Hyd. Veg. Oil                                                                            15.5      2.0      14.2   36.4                                     Softening Point                                                                          57° C.                                                                          65° C.                                                                           59° C.                                                                        64° C.                            ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLES 91-98                                                                                    92               94                                       Type:      91       Control   93     Control                                  ______________________________________                                        Elastomer  28.8     31.3      30.3   30.5                                     PVAc       22.0     22.4      15.5   15.6                                     Elastomer  --       13.7      15.2   14.7                                     Plasticizer                                                                   Hyd. Veg. Oil                                                                            17.2      4.7      16.0    5.7                                     Wax        --       12.9      --     11.9                                     Softening Point                                                                          53° C.                                                                          58° C.                                                                           51° C.                                                                        56° C.                            ______________________________________                                                            96               98                                       Type:      95       Control   97     Control                                  ______________________________________                                        Elastomer   36.87   36.9      30.2   30.9                                     PVAc        26.64   26.6      15.4   15.7                                     Elastomer   11.41   11.4      15.2   13.3                                     Plasticizer                                                                   Hyd. Veg. Oil                                                                            16.0      5.9      13.5    5.9                                     Wax        --       10.2      --     10.3                                     Softening Point                                                                          58° C.                                                                          77° C.                                                                           56° C.                                                                        65° C.                            ______________________________________                                        II. BUBBLE GUMS                                                               EXAMPLES 99-105                                                                                   100              102                                      Type:      99       Control   101    Control                                  ______________________________________                                        Elastomer   7.9      7.0      11.9   10.8                                     PVAc       34.2     31.3      37.0   35.3                                     Elastomer  14.8     13.1      20.3   18.5                                     Plasticizer                                                                   Softener   13.3     10.6      14.1   12.8                                     Wax        --       13.0      --      6.5                                     Softening Point                                                                          50° C.                                                                          56° C.                                                                           57° C.                                                                        62° C.                            ______________________________________                                                                       105                                            Type:      103         104     Control                                        ______________________________________                                        Elastomer  11.6        11.6    10.8                                           PVAc       31.4        31.4    31.3                                           Elastomer  19.8        19.8    18.5                                           Plasticizer                                                                   Softener   13.7        14.5    12.3                                           Wax        --          --       6.5                                           Softening Point                                                                          53° C.                                                                             53° C.                                                                         59° C.                                  ______________________________________                                    

By way of example, and not limitation, taste results of gum created fromcommercial gum bases that have wax vis-a-vis chewing gum, created fromgum bases that do not include wax pursuant to the present invention willnow be given.

The testing was performed using a blind study protocol. One hundredfifty participants were used in each of the three studies. Fifty percentof the participants in each study had chewed the commercial (control)product as their regular preferred gum before the study and 50% of theparticipants had chewed the control gum at least once during thepreceding week before the study.

During the study, each participant was given one of the two gum productsto chew for 12 minutes. This was followed by a cleansing period of 6minutes. The second product was then chewed for 12 minutes. During thestudy, half of the participants were given the control first and halfthe new product. The participants were asked for their preferences basedon a number of criteria.

The results were as follows:

EXAMPLE NO. 1A

In this example, the control gum comprised: 25.2% of a gum base withwax; 48.45% sorbitol; 16.80% glycerine; 8.01% mannitol; 1.33% flavor;and 0.21% encapsulated aspartame.

The no wax gum comprised: 25.2% of the gum base of the control modifiedpursuant to the present invention; 48.45% sorbitol; 16.80% glycerine;8.01% mannitol; 1.33% flavor; and 0.21% encapsulated aspartame.

    ______________________________________                                        PREFERENCES                                                                                      Prefer   Prefer                                                               No Wax   Wax                                                                  %        %                                                 ______________________________________                                        Overall Preference 52       47                                                Tastes Best        52       46                                                More Refreshing    50       46                                                Chewing Texture    50       47                                                Refreshing Breath  55       40                                                Long Lasting Taste 52       41                                                Better Spearmint Flavor                                                                          49       48                                                Better Appearance  36       44                                                Sweeter            54       40                                                Less Bitter        44       45                                                Softer             79       16                                                Better Smell       38       51                                                Stronger Flavor    57       42                                                Stuck More To Teeth                                                                              31       31                                                Rather Buy         52       44                                                ______________________________________                                                           No Wax   Wax                                               ______________________________________                                        FLAVOR OVERALL (1 MINUTE)                                                     "Excellent"        23%      21%                                               STRENGTH OF FLAVOR (1 MINUTE)                                                 "About Right"      70%      70%                                               FLAVOR OVERALL (12 MINUTES)                                                   "Excellent"         9%       7%                                               STRENGTH OF FLAVOR (12 MINUTES)                                               "About Right"      51%      56%                                               ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE NO. 2A

In this example, the control gum comprised: 25.16% base with wax; 48.38%sorbitol; 8.00% mannitol; 16.66% glycerine; 1.55% flavor; and 0.25%encapsulated aspartame.

The no wax chewing gum comprised: 25.16% of the base of the controlmodified pursuant to the present invention; 48.28% sorbitol; 8.00%mannitol; 16.66% glycerine; 1.65% flavor; and 0.25% encapsulatedaspartame.

    ______________________________________                                        PREFERENCES                                                                                      Prefer   Prefer                                                               No Wax   Wax                                                                  %        %                                                 ______________________________________                                        Overall Preference 49       47                                                Tastes Best        47       50                                                More Refreshing    49       46                                                Chewing Texture    46       51                                                Refreshing Breath  46       48                                                Longer Lasting Taste                                                                             47       49                                                Better Spearmint Flavor                                                                          50       46                                                Better Appearance  39       39                                                Sweeter            44       47                                                Less Bitter        37       47                                                Softer             72       24                                                Better Smell       50       43                                                Stronger Flavor    53       44                                                Stuck More To Teeth                                                                              13       37                                                Rather Buy         48       48                                                ______________________________________                                                           No Wax   Wax                                               ______________________________________                                        FLAVOR OVERALL (1 MINUTE)                                                     "Excellent"        22%      17%                                               STRENGTH OF FLAVOR (1 MINUTE)                                                 "About Right"      64%      65%                                               FLAVOR OVERALL (12 MINUTES)                                                   "Excellent"        11%       7%                                               STRENGTH OF FLAVOR (12 MINUTES)                                               "About Right"      48%      47%                                               ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE NO. 3A

In this example, the control gum comprised: 20.6% base with wax; 57.63%sugar; 20.39% corn syrup; 0.83% glycerine; and 0.55% flavor. The no waxchewing gum comprised: 20.6% of the base of the control modifiedpursuant to the invention; 59.49% sugar; 18.5% corn syrup; 0.83%glycerine; and 0.58% flavor.

    ______________________________________                                        PREFERENCES                                                                                      Prefer   Prefer                                                               No Wax   Wax                                                                  %        %                                                 ______________________________________                                        Overall Preference 56       43                                                Tastes Best        53       44                                                More Refreshing    51       48                                                Chewing Texture    48       48                                                Refreshing Breath  51       45                                                Longer Lasting Taste                                                                             50       46                                                Better Spearmint Flavor                                                                          46       51                                                Better Appearance  45       38                                                Sweeter            40       55                                                Less Bitter        46       43                                                Softer             43       52                                                Better Smell       46       45                                                Stronger Flavor    46       52                                                Stuck More to Teeth                                                                              26       32                                                Rather Buy         51       45                                                ______________________________________                                        EXAMPLE NO. 3A                                                                                 No Wax Wax                                                   ______________________________________                                        FLAVOR OVERALL (1 MINUTE)                                                     "Excellent"        21%      21%                                               STRENGTH OF FLAVOR (1 MINUTE)                                                 "About Right"      71%      68%                                               FLAVOR OVERALL (12 MINUTES)                                                   "Excellent"         7%       6%                                               STRENGTH OF FLAVOR (12 MINUTES)                                               "About Right"      45%      38%                                               ______________________________________                                    

Pursuant to the present invention, the glass transition temperature ofthe gum base is increased. As noted above, although providing asubstantially wax-free chewing gum base provides many advantages, it hasbeen found, at least with respect to certain bubble gum chewing gumbases that cold flow can become an issue during shipping and storage.This has been found to be due to the transition temperature of the gumbases without wax.

Referring now to FIG. 1, graphically, temperature (° C.) dependence ofmodulus for a typical gum base is illustrated. The graph depicts theglass transition temperature data graphically illustrating a typicalcurve of the modulus of a typical wax containing gum base versustemperature.

With respect to the graph, curve segment A-B is the temperature rangewherein the heat energy is being absorbed and the attractive forcesbetween the individual polymeric backbone chains of one polymeric chainto the other is strong but weakening. Curve point B is the glasstransition temperature of the gum base.

Curve segment B-C is the temperature range wherein the attractive forcesbetween the polymeric backbone chains are weakening to an even greaterextent than previously. The polymeric backbone chains themselves beginto "slip" along each other. Curve point C represents the softening pointtemperature of the gum base.

Curve segment C-D is the temperature range wherein heat energy is beingabsorbed and the attractive forces between molecules of the individualpolymeric backbone chains is strong but weakening. Curve point Drepresents the melting point temperature. Curve segment D-E is thetemperature range wherein heat energy absorption is at a maximum and theindividual polymeric backbone chains forces weaken.

As noted above, it has been found that by removing or at leastsubstantially reducing the vinyl polymer softeners benzyl benzoate,benzyl butyrate, benzyl phenol acetate, acetyl triethyl citrate, diethylmalonate, ethyl oleate, sucrose octaacetate, diacetyl tartaric acidester of mono- and di-glycerides, stearyl monoglyceridyl citrate,succinylated glycerides, lactylic and glyceryl lacto esters of fattyacids, butyl-2-decenoate, citronellyl butyrate, cresyl acetate, ethylacetate, diethyl malonate, diethyl sebacate, triethyl citrate, diethylsuccinate, glycerol tributyrate, ethyl laurate, ethyl acetoacetate,diethyl tartrate, glycerol triacetate and ethyl or butyl lactate fromthe gum base, the glass transition temperature can be raised. Forexample, by removing the softener glycerol triacetate from the base, abase with an advantageous glass transition temperature can be achieved.This provides a gum base that is substantially free of wax, yet has asufficiently high glass transition temperature so that it can be easilyshipped without necessitating costly refrigeration temperatures.

By way of example, and not limitation, further examples of the presentinvention will now be given:

EXAMPLE NO. 4

    __________________________________________________________________________    Notes:        w/wax  w/o wax                                                                              w/o wax                                                                              w/wax  w/o wax                                                                              w/o wax                      (GT = Glycerol                                                                              w/GT,  w/GT,  w/o GT w/GT,  w/GT,  w/o GT                       Triacetate)   w/o AMG                                                                              w/AMG  w/AMG  w/o AMG                                                                              w/AMG  w/AMG                        EXAMPLE ID:   A1     A2     A3     B1     B2     B3                           __________________________________________________________________________    Polyisobutylene                                                                             11.0   12.0   13.0    7.0    8.0    8.0                         PVA           35.0   37.0   39.0   31.0   34.0   36.0                         Filler        16.0   16.0   17.0   25.0   30.0   32.0                         Glyc. Triacetate Softener                                                                    5.0    6.0   --      5.0    5.0   --                           AMG Softener  --      4.0    4.0   --      3.0    3.0                         Elastomer Plasticizer                                                                       18.0   20.0   22.0   13.0   15.0   16.0                         Wax            7.0   --     --     13.0   --     --                           Other Softeners                                                                              8.0    5.0    5.0    6.0    5.0    5.0                         __________________________________________________________________________    Notes:        w/wax  w/o wax                                                                              w/o wax                                                                              w/wax  w/o wax                                                                              w/o wax                      (GT = Glycerol                                                                              w/GT,  w/GT,  w/o GT w/GT,  w/GT,  w/o GT                       Triacetate)   w/o AMG                                                                              w/AMG  w/AMG  w/o AMG                                                                              w/o AMG                                                                              w/o AMG                      EXAMPLE ID:   C1     C2     C3     D1     D2     D3                           __________________________________________________________________________    Polyisobutylene                                                                             11.0   12.0   12.0   12.0   13.0   13.0                         PVA           31.0   31.0   33.0   23.0   24.0   25.0                         Filler        20.0   22.0   25.0   24.0   27.0   30.0                         Glyc. Triacetate Softener                                                                    5.0    6.0   --      4.0    5.0   --                           AMG Softener   4.0    6.0    6.0   --     --     --                           Elastomer Plasticizer                                                                       19.0   20.0   21.0   18.0   19.0   20.0                         Wax            6.0   --     --      7.0   --     --                           Other Softeners                                                                              4.0    3.0    3.0   12.0   12.0   12.0                         __________________________________________________________________________    Notes:        w/wax  w/o wax                                                                              w/o wax                                                                              w/wax  w/o wax                                                                              w/o wax                      (GT = Glycerol                                                                              w/GT,  w/GT,  w/o GT w/GT,  w/GT,  w/o GT                       Triacetate)   w/o AMG                                                                              w/o AMG                                                                              w/o AMG                                                                              w/AMG  w/AMG  w/AMG                        EXAMPLE ID:   E1     E2     E3     F1     F2     F3                           __________________________________________________________________________    Polyisobutylene                                                                              9.0    9.0   10.0   18.0   20.0   21.0                         PVA           42.0   44.0   48.0   21.0   23.0   24.0                         Filler         9.0    9.0   10.0   28.0   32.0   33.0                         Glyc. Triacetate Softener                                                                   10.0   10.0   --      3.0    3.0   --                           AMG Softener  --     --     --      3.0    3.0    3.0                         Elastomer Plasticizer                                                                       24.0   26.0   28.0   12.0   14.0   14.0                         Wax            4.0   --     --     11.0   --     --                           Other Softeners                                                                              2.0    2.0    4.0    4.0    5.0    5.0                         __________________________________________________________________________

SAMPLE SELECTION FROM THE EXAMPLES -- GLASS TRANSITION TEMPERATURE ATWHICH COLD FLOW MAY BEGIN TO OCCUR (° C.):

    ______________________________________                                        Example                                                                              Tem-     Example  Tem-   Example                                                                              Tem-                                   ID     perature ID       perature                                                                             ID     perature                               ______________________________________                                        A1     17       B1       17     C1     11                                     A2     12       B2       12     C2     -1                                     A3     14       B3       21     C3     13                                     ______________________________________                                    

FIGS. 2-4 illustrate, graphically, the results of these experiments. Asnoted in the tables: A1, B1, and C1 represent bases including wax andglycerol triacetate; A2, B2, and C2 represent bases including glyceroltriacetate but no wax; and A3, B3, and C3 represent bases that do notinclude wax or glycerol triacetate.

The removal of wax resulted in a decrease of from about 5° C. to about12° C. in Tg temperatures as shown from examples A2 through C2 whencompared to the Tg temperatures for control bases containing wax,examples A1 through C1. Removal of glycerol triacetate from the wax-freeexamples A2 through C2 resulted in an increase of from about 2° C. toabout 14° C. in Tg temperatures as shown for examples A3 through C3.

While the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are presentlyconsidered to be preferred, various modifications and improvements canbe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims, and allchanges that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are intended to be embraced therein.

We claim:
 1. A wax-free chewing gum base having flavor releasecharacteristics at least as good as similar bases including waxcomprising:an elastomer; polyvinyl acetate; an elastomer plasticizer;and a sufficient amount of at least one oil chosen from the groupconsisting of cottonseed, soybean, canola, safflower, sunflower, palm,and coconut oil to achieve flavor release characteristics that are atleast as good as a similar gum base that includes wax.
 2. The wax-freechewing gum base of claim 1 wherein the base includes palm oil.
 3. Thewax-free chewing gum base of claim 1 wherein the oil is hydrogenated. 4.The wax-free chewing gum base of claim 2 wherein the palm oil ishydrogenated.
 5. The wax-free chewing gum base of claim 2 wherein thebase includes at least one other oil in addition to palm oil.
 6. Thewax-free chewing gum base of claim 1 wherein the oil has a capillarymelting point between approximately 60° C. and 70° C.
 7. The wax-freechewing gum base of claim 1 comprising at least 12%, by weight, oil. 8.The wax-free chewing gum base of claim 1 comprising:about 20 to about 60weight percent synthetic elastomer; 0 to about 30 weight percent naturalelastomer; about 5 to about 55 weight percent elastomer plasticizer;about 4 to about 35 weight percent filler; about 12 to about 35 weightpercent softener.
 9. The wax-free chewing gum base of claim 1 whereinthe elastomer includes at least one natural elastomer selected from thegroup consisting of jelutong, lechi caspi, perillo, sorva, massarandubabalata, massaranduba chocolate, nispero, rosindinha, chicle, gutta hangkang, smoked or liquid latex, guayule, and combinations thereof.
 10. Thewax-free chewing gum base of claim 1 wherein the elastomer includes atleast one synthetic elastomer selected from the group consisting ofpolyisobutylene, butadiene-styrene copolymer, vinyl acetate-vinyllaurate copolymer, polyisoprene, isobutylene-isoprene copolymer, andcombinations thereof.
 11. The wax-free chewing gum base of claim 1wherein the elastomer plasticizer is selected from the group consistingof glycerol esters of rosin, glycerol esters of partially hydrogenatedrosin, glycerol esters of polymerized rosin, glycerol esters ofpartially dimerized rosin, partially hydrogenated methyl esters ofrosin, pentaerythritol esters of rosin, methyl esters of rosin,pentaerythritol esters of partially hydrogenated rosin, terpene resin,and combinations thereof.
 12. The wax-free chewing gum base of claim 1including a filler selected from the group consisting of calciumcarbonate, magnesium carbonate, talc, ground limestone, magnesiumsilicate, aluminum silicate, clay, alumina, titanium dioxide, mono-, di-and tri-calcium phosphates, cellulose, and combinations thereof.
 13. Thewax-free chewing gum base of claim 1 including a sufficient amount ofoil to reduce the softening point by at least 5° C. as compared to asimilar gum base having wax.
 14. A wax-free chewing gum having chewcharacteristics at least substantially as good as a similar chewing gumincluding wax comprising:a water soluble bulk portion; one or moreflavor agents; and a water insoluble gum base comprising: an elastomer;an elastomer plasticizer; polyvinyl acetate; and a sufficient amount ofat least one oil chosen from the group consisting of cottonseed,soybean, canola, safflower, sunflower, palm, and coconut oil to achieveflavor release characteristics that are at least as good as a similarchewing gum that includes wax.
 15. The chewing gum base of claim 14comprising at least 12%, by weight, oil.
 16. The chewing gum base ofclaim 14 comprising:about 20 to about 60 weight percent syntheticelastomer; 0 to about 30 weight percent natural elastomer; about 5 toabout 55 weight percent elastomer plasticizer; about 4 to about 35weight percent filler; about 12 to about 35 weight percent softener. 17.The chewing gum of claim 14 wherein the base includes palm oil.
 18. Thechewing gum of claim 14 wherein the oil is hydrogenated.
 19. The chewinggum of claim 16 wherein the palm oil is hydrogenated.
 20. The chewinggum of claim 19 including at least one other oil in addition to palmoil.
 21. A method for creating a wax-free gum base comprising the stepsof:creating gum base from at least an elastomer, an elastomerplasticizer, polyvinyl acetate, and at least one oil selected from thegroup consisting of cottonseed, soybean, canola, safflower, sunflower,palm, and coconut oil; and choosing the oil content so as to create agum base that is lower than a softening point of the gum base had waxbeen present.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the base includes palmoil.